Plum tree, &#34;John-John&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of plum tree which is somewhat similar to the Laroda Plum Tree (unpatented), with which it bears fruit which is of similar physical characteristics but which is distinguished therefrom by bearing fruit which ripens approximately 7 to 10 days before the fruit of the Laroda Plum Tree (unpatented) and which further is somewhat larger in size, more richly colored, and of a milder flavor.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a plum tree, designated varietally bythe name "John-John", and more particularly to a plum tree which bears adark Purplish-Red fruit which ripens approximately 7 to 10 days beforethe fruit of the Laroda Plum Tree (unpatented), but which isdistinguished therefrom in being somewhat larger on the average, morefully colored, and of a milder "less acidic" flavor.

For many years, the applicant has grown large acreages of fruit treesand has constantly sought to produce improved varieties thereof. One ofthe procedures used by the applicant to produce new fruit trees is togerminate thousands of seeds of unknown parentage, to grow the resultingseedlings to maturity, and then to evaluate the resultant trees andtheir fruit. The subject variety of this application is a result of oneof these many randomly-pollinated seedlings of unknown parentage. Thesubject plum tree was originated in 1977 on the applicant's ranch nearthe corner of Kings Canyon Road and Fowler Avenue, Fresno, County ofFresno, State of California. The seedling of the present variety wasgerminated by the applicant and grown with thousands of other seedlingson his ranch near the intersection of the designated Kings Canyon Roadand Fowler in the City of Fresno, until its unique qualities weredetected and appreciated. The applicant then asexually reproduced thenew variety in 1981, by grafting a scion of the new and distinct varietyfrom the seedling onto standing seedling trees at the aforementionedorchard and observed the grafts to determine whether the characteristicsobserved in the original seedling were present. The grafted progeny weregrown at the designated farm until it was determined that the newvariety dependably and accurately reproduced the superiorcharacteristics observed by the applicant in the original seedling.

As will subsequently become apparent, the instant variety of plum treeis somewhat similar to the Laroda Plum Tree (unpatented), with which itappears most nearly similar. However, the present variety of plum treeis harvested some 7 to 10 days prior to the Laroda Plum Tree, and inaddition the fruit of the subject variety is somewhat larger on theaverage, is more richly colored, and has a less acidic flavor than thefruit of the Laroda.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph of a characteristic twigbearing typical leaves, a cluster of two plums showing their externalcoloration sufficiently matured for harvesting and shipment, two matureplums of the color when matured on the trees, a plum halved transverselyof the suture plane to illustrate the flesh coloration, and five stones,all of the subject variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of plum tree, the following has been observed under theecological conditions prevailing in the designated orchard near Fresno,Calif. All major color code designations are by reference to the MunsellLimit Color Cascade, hereinafter referred to as "MCC". Commondescriptive color names are also used occasionally.

TREE

Size: Medium to large, depending upon pruning practices.

Vigor: Vigorous.

Figure: Upright, spreading, dense and vase-formed.

Productivity: Very productive.

Regularity of bearing: Regular.

Trunk:

Thickness.--Medium.

Branches:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--Gray.

LEAVES

Shoot:

Size.--Medium to large.

Length.--11.47±1.90 cm.

Width.--4.51±0.61 cm.

Form.--Oval to slightly obovate, acuminate, pointed.

Thickness.--Medium.

Color.--Ventral Surface -- Green (MCC 21-15 to 20-14); Dorsal Surface --lighter and more Grayish-Green.

Texture.--Nearly smooth.

Marginal form.--Crenate.

Petiole.--Length -- short to medium; Thickness -- medium.

Glands.--Variable in number from 2 to 4; small, globose, green,opposite, positioned at the base of the blade or occasionally on thepetiole when there are 3 or 4 glands.

Stipules.--Lacking.

Spur:

Size.--Small to medium.

Length.--10.36±1.57 cm.

Width.--3.29±0.49 cm.

Form.--Narrow and slightly obovate, acuminate, pointed.

Base.--Narrowly acuminate.

Thickness.--Thin to medium.

Color.--Ventral Surface -- Dark Green (MCC 20-14 to 21-15); DorsalSurface a lighter, grayer green.

Texture.--Nearly smooth.

Marginal form.--Finely crenate.

Petiole.--Length -- short; Thickness -- slender to medium.

Glands.--Variable in number, from 0 to 3; small, globose, green,opposite, usually positioned at the base of the blade.

Stipules.--Lacking.

Flower buds: Small, medium, plump, free, medium brown, and glabrous.

Flowers: Medium in size and white.

Date of first bloom.--Feb. 18, 1984.

Date of full bloom.--Feb. 28, 1984; an average date of bloom as comparedwith other varieties.

FRUIT

Maturity when described:

Firm ripe for eating.--July 6.

Size: Uniform; medium to large.

Axial diameter.--5.37±0.32 cm.

Diameter transverse in suture plane.--5.71±0.25 cm.

Diameter transverse in cheek plane.--6.04±0.36 cm.

Form: Uniform, although occasionally slightly variable; slightlyunsymmetrical; globose to slightly oblate; one half of the subjectvariety often is larger apically.

Suture: An inconspicuous shallow groove extending from the base to theapex; there is a very slight depression beyond the pistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded slightly, and lipped throughout.

Cavity: Rounded and slightly elongated in the suture plane, with thesuture showing on one side.

Depth.--0.73±0.17 cm.

Breadth.--2.25±0.17 cm.

Markings.--None.

Base: More or less truncated.

Apex: Short; rounded to truncated, often oblique dorsally; occasionallydepressed.

Pistil point: Apical.

Stem:

Length.--2 cm.; stout.

Skin: Medium in thickness; tough in texture; bitter to the taste;tenacious to the flesh; no observed tendency to crack.

Down.--Wanting.

Color.--Dark Purplish-Red (MCC 41-15 to 43-16); Ground Color -- BrownishTan (MCC 31-11); surface color may vary where the particular surfacearea has been covered by a leaf. Bloom -- medium to heavy; Color --Blue-Gray (MCC 4-5).

Dots.--Numerous in number, regularly shaped, small, Light Brown; morenumerous in number on the cheeks, shoulders, cavity, and along thesuture; most numerous dorsally.

Flesh:

Color.--Light Amber Yellow (MCC 30-4); a slight reddish tinge persistsnext to the skin apically.

Surface of the pit cavity.--Darker in color than the flesh immediatelyadjacent thereto.

Amygdalin.--Scant.

Juice.--Production -- moderate to rich.

Texture.--Firm and meaty.

Fibers.--Few, fine, and tender.

Ripening.--Even.

Flavor.--Mild to sub-acid.

Aroma.--Wanting.

Eating quality.--Good.

Stone: Semi-freestone.

Size.--Medium to large.

Length.--2.20±0.14 cm.

Breadth.--1.90±0.11 cm.

Thickness.--1.09±0.07 cm.

Form.--In the cheek view, a broad oval, to very slightly obovate;occasionally nearly round; usually broadly necked basally.

Hilum.--Narrow and oblong.

Apex.--Rounded, occasionally with or without a short, usually blunt tip.

Sides.--Variable, occasionally equal or slightly unequal.

Surface.--Irregularly furrowed near the base, with a marked ridgemedianly on the cheeks.

Ridges.--Positioned toward the base.

Ventral edge.--Thin, without wing throughout.

Dorsal edge.--Narrow, with deep, broad grooves; positioned above center.

Color of stone.--Light Brown (MCC 31-3).

Tendency to split.--Not observed.

Use: Market and dessert.

Keeping quality: Good.

Resistance to insects: Medium.

Resistance to diseases: Medium.

Shipping quality: Good.

Although the new variety of plum tree possesses the describedcharacteristics as a result of the growing conditions in Fresno County,Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to beunderstood that variations of the usual magnitude in characteristicsincident to growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest controlare to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of plum tree, Iclaim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of plum tree substantially asillustrated and described which is most closely similar in tree andfruit characteristics to the Laroda Plum Tree (unpatented), and fromwhich it is distinguished by bearing fruit which ripens approximately 7to 10 days before the fruit of the Laroda Plum Tree, and which isfurther distinguished from the Laroda Plum Tree by being somewhat largeron the average, more richly colored, and milder and less acidic inflavor.